Diouf hat trick is highlight of reserve week

Last updated : 21 January 2010 By Tony Scholes

Martin Paterson - scored Burnley's goal against Hull

There were two games on Tuesday and two tonight. We got the league back in action with the first goal of the year when Martin Paterson gave us the lead against Hull City at North Ferriby, but we couldn't go on to win the game with Bryan Hughes, who scored against us at Accrington, equalising for the home side.

On the same night the bottom two met with Wigan coming out on top against Bolton with a 2-0 win at Robin Park. Goalscorers for Wigan were Tomasz Kupisz and Joe Holt.

Tonight saw the top three all in action with the top two, Liverpool and Manchester City, fighting out that 3-3 draw and it was Liverpool who went in front through a 25-yard shot from Jay Spearing after the ball was played to him by Dani Pacheco.

They should have doubled that lead but Nathan Eccleston missed a good chance and City took advantage of that almost immediately. Home goalkeeper Gulacsi made a good save but Robert Mak came in to hammer home the rebound.

Pacheco was the next on the scoresheet with another effort from outside the box to restore Liverpool's lead and that was it for the first half. However, City really did get their way back into the game in the second half when they scored twice in two minutes just past the hour.

First Alex Nimely slotted home from close range and then James Poole hammered in a volley to put City in front. That's how it almost remained but Liverpool grabbed a point in the last minute of stoppage time when Nikola Saric netted to keep them top.

City couldn't hold on to second place despite that result with neighbours Manchester United winning easily against Sunderland at the Eppleton Colliery Welfare Ground.

Mame Biram Diouf scored his first Premier League goal against the Clarets last Saturday and tonight he was making his reserve team debut, and how, with a hat trick in the first 48 minutes.

The first came on 18 minutes when he run into the box and chipped goalkeeper Carson to give United the lead and right on half time he was there to hit home a cross from Gabriel Obertan.

Three minutes into the second half he took a pass from Oliver Norwood and despite being clearly offside he hit home a left foot shot and the goal stood.

United completed the scoring with a penalty converted by Sam Hewson after Danny Wellbeck had been brought down by the goalkeeper.

Burnley remain in fourth place in the table and we are next in action on 11th February when we travel to Altrincham to play Manchester United.